Good starter instrument for child too young for bassoon?

Question

My 8 year old son is in the 3rd grade, and they will be picking instruments in June at school so that they can begin music instruction for band.

It is unfortunate that they do not offer strings at school because he'd like to play the violin. He could get outside lessons, but would never be able to be in school band. I may still get him lessons in that, but I'd like him to at least pick an instrument for school so that he can be in band.

My son has always had an interest in the bassoon after he saw a boy play. He also picked out the sound as something he likes. He is obviously too small and young to start on that, and I don't want him to turn away from music due to difficulty.

Can anyone suggest whether a clarinet or oboe would be a good starter instrument to ready him for the bassoon?

My daughter has played flute since 4th grade and is now 1st chair as a senior. I'd hate for him to not have the same love of music, but he has to like it.

Answer 1

Flute or oboe. I play all 3 and the transition from one to another was VERY easy. The fingering is nearly the same on all 3 instruments. You also want to start him on a less costly instrument. He's still young and could change his mind at anytime.

Answer 2

I'd suggest oboe. Speak to the band director about what he thinks, but if I remember correctly, the oboe is much closer to what he wants. A clarinetist plays lots of runs and higher notes. The oboe is going to have the deeper, richer sound like a bassoon.

Answer 3

Oboe is a double reed instrument so it would be more of a natural match.  In our high school they did not have oboes in band, they only had them in the school orchestra, so you might want to look at what his overall goal is.  Clarinet is single reed but it would help him with fingering and is in both marching bands, seated bands, and orchestras.

Oboe is probably the way to go if he wants to learn bassoon eventually.

Edit:  Ooh, I agree with the poster who said to start on recorder. It's a great way to learn to read music, fingering, and control your breath.

Answer 4

both the oboe and english horn are double read inst. same as basson.  Not sure about fingering but at least with these he'd get used to the double read

Answer 5

Maybe a trumpet. Not so many combinations of finger positions to learn. Or trombone. Also alto saxaphone is good for beginners.

Answer 6

Talk to the band director--you might be surprised at what he'll let your kid start out playing. Clarinet or alto sax would be the simplest starting point to move on to more complicated reed instruments if the director thinks starting on bassoon is too much. Make sure you keep your son involved in all of this; it's him that needs to be happy here.

Answer 7

An oboe is close to a bassoon in technique; they are both double-reed instruments. A clarinet is a single-reed instrument, so it's a little different.

For an 8-year-old, though, you might want to start him out on a recorder. It's not much more than a glorified whistle, but it allows him to learn fingering and music-reading without having to concentrate as much on his embouchure (mouth technique).

Answer 8

I have played both the clarinet and the flute they are both very easy. If your son prefers an instrument that is easy to play the notes then a good instrument is the clarinet. But if he wants a more challenging note playing i suggest the flute.